Chirality Induction to CdSe Nanocrystals Self-Organized on Silica Nanohelices: Tuning Chiroptical Properties

CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) were grafted on chiral silica nanoribbons, and the mechanism of resulting chirality induction was investigated. Because of their chiral organization, these NCs show optically active properties that depend strongly on their grafting densities and sizes of the NCs. The effect of the morphology of the chiral silica templates between helical (cylindrical curvature) vs twisted (saddle like curvature) ribbons was investigated. The g-factor of NCs-silica helical ribbons is larger than that of the NCs-silica twisted ribbons. Finally, rod-like NCs (QR) with different lengths were grafted on the twisted silica ribbons. Interestingly, their grafting direction with respect to the helix surface changed from side-grafting for short QR to tip-grafting for long rods and the corresponding CD spectra switched signs.

Automated summary

The study found that CdSe nanocrystals grafted on chiral silica nanoribbons exhibit optically active properties that are strongly dependent on grafting densities and the sizes of the nanocrystals. Additionally, the morphology of the chiral silica templates affects the direction of grafting and the change in CD spectra.